You might be shocked to find out exactly how much the two NASA astronauts are getting paid for being stranded upon the International Space Station (ISS), as the truth has been revealed by one retired astronaut.
The situation involving astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams has been well documented, as their initial eight-day expedition to the ISS has now turned into a 251 day stay and continues on with no imminent return.
The reason that they've been stuck there for so long is two-fold, but is routed largely within the same problem: technical failure within spacecraft.
Not only did their Boeing Starliner spacecraft suffer technical difficulties, leaving them stranded in space in the first place, but their planned return flight has been delayed after issues arose with the SpaceX Crew-10 C213 Dragon capsule that would service the mandated changeover protocol.
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NASA ensures that any astronaut returning from the International Space Station must provide simultaneous changeover with an incoming expedition, but since there has been no one to switch places, Williams and Wilmore have been left 'stranded' effectively.
Although that isn't necessarily the case, at least according to astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell in an interview with Washingtonian. McDowell outlines that "the party line at NASA is that the astronauts are not stranded," insisting that "it's way overblown."
"They're fine," McDowell explains. "They just got to do an extra spacewalk, which they love. They'll come home on the next ride."
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That still doesn't factor in the health concerns that many have for the pair though, as pictures have revealed their 'gaunt' appearance and reports indicate hours of daily exercise are required to avoid dangerous health conditions.
To further add to the misery, it doesn't seem like they're getting much in the way of financial compensation after being stuck in a situation way out of their control.
Retired NASA astronaut Cady Coleman reveals in the same interview that the astronauts don't get any special overtime beyond their standard salaried pay packet, indicating that as federal employees, taking a trip to space has the same concessions as any other Earth-bound business trip.
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"There is some small amount of money every say for incidentals that they end up being legally obligated to pay you," Coleman informs, but this is likely to be around just $4 per day, working out at at extra $1,004 each for their time so far.
While they are likely enjoying their time in space, as McDowell has suggested, you'd expect there to be a bit more of an effort to compensate considering the sacrifices that they've made - which include drinking soup made from their own urine.
With a planned return flight launching around the middle of March though, it hopefully won't be too long before the pair find their way back to Earth.